Science Daily published an article entitled
“One Extinct Turtle Less: Turtle Species in the Seychelles Never Existed” by Heiko Stuckas, Richard Gemel, and Uwe Fritz. Pelusios seychellensis, a species of turtles identified by scientists in 1906 in the Seychelles Islands were believed to be extinct. New DNA evidence taken from a specimen correctly identified the species as Pelusios castaneus, a West African mud turtle that still exists. This genetic revelation will assist protection programs for turtles in the Seychelles Islands.
I hope this information truly benefits the wild life on the Seychelles Islands which is an outdoor museum of natural history and a sanctuary for some of the rarest species of flora and fauna on earth.
Article Link:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130404072916.htmhttp://www.ecologyproject.org/students?gclid=CJqxxZDtuLYCFQuCnQodmjAABA
It's interesting that this turtle was first identified as a different species. I wonder what makes it different from what previous scientists assumed. It is uplifting to know that there is one less turtle on the extinct list than what was previously thought. Great article!
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